Paterson and the Goal Posts

(Warning: Sports metaphors!)

In any normal election campaign there’s one constant: the calendar. Everybody knows when (if not how) it will all end.

But as the special election in the 20th congressional district gets underway — and trust me, it’s underway — Governor David Paterson is controlling the clock.

He hasn’t yet set an election day.

And despite his assurances that he’ll set a date “soon” the law allows him to dither and delay for months.

Which is good news for Democratic candidate Scott Murphy, the Glens Falls venture capital fund manager who is trying to hold the seat for the Dems.

Murphy, diving into his first campaign, will need weeks to gear up a campaign capable of matching that of Jim Tedisco, the Assembly minority leader.

Tedisco is a veteran campaigner, with an infrastructure already in place capable of turning out a massive vote in the district.

Murphy plans to unveil his new campaign HQ in Glens Falls tomorrow; and his publicity is being managed by national Dem leaders.

Tedisco has been out on the trail for more than a week, trying to rally those straying GOP voters back to his banner.

The campaign has already turned nasty, with both sides firing ethics salvos.

But Gov. Paterson can keep those goal posts in his back pocket, until he’s confident that “his” candidate is ready for the big game.